The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office has received confirmation that a horse in Pueblo County tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). Samples from the horse initially tested positive at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on June 2, 2022
“While this rule will expire, the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office recommends that all poultry shows, sales, swaps and commingling events continue to be postponed or canceled at this time,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Baldwin. If you have sick birds or birds that have died from unknown causes, help is available at the Colorado Avian Health Call Line at CSU, (970) 297-4008.
On Wednesday, June 15 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., an emergency exercise will be held on the South Campus behind the Johnson Family Equine Hospital just south of the intersection of Phemister Road and Gillette Drive. During the exercise, you may see emergency response vehicles and first responders in hazardous material suits. Please do not call 9-1-1.
Massive flock casualties have the potential to slow supply chains, according to Ragan Adams, a veterinary specialist at Colorado State University’s extension office.
VIDEO: The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in the U.S. in February and has spread in wild birds in 31 states. More than 45 million domestic poultry and birds have been impacted, Colorado State University said in a news release Monday.
The Poultry Pathways webinar hosted by CSU extension opened with talk of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. Heather Reider, who serves as the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Avian Health Coordinator said it is a serious concern for Colorado’s $21 million poultry industry.
One bird carcass was delivered to the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for preliminary testing, with confirmatory testing being completed at the USDA NVSL on April 8.
Officials learned from a Pitkin County veterinarian that 35 of 36 poultry died in a flock. Test samples were sent to CSU's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for preliminary testing and then to the national lab on Friday.
"Influenza viruses are really smart viruses because their reservoir are wild birds and wild birds move all across the globe.” -Dr. Kristy Pabilonia, director of clinical diagnostics for the CSU Veterinary Health System
“Colorado poultry owners should immediately increase their biosecurity protocols to protect their flocks, including limiting exposure of domestic birds to wild birds and other poultry flocks and limiting introduction of new birds into flocks.” -Dr. Maggie Baldwin, Colorado State Veterinarian